CHAPTER 3 FORCES AND PRESSURE

3.1 3.2 3.3 Understanding pressure Understanding pressure in liquids

Understanding gas pressure and atmospheric pressure

3.4 Applying Pascals Principle 3.5 Applying Archimedes Principle

3.1 Understanding pressure

Pressure Pressure is defined as perpendicular force acting on a surface per unit area

P = Pressure F = Force / Normal force A = Contact Area

Factors affecting the magnitude of Pressure 1. The larger Magnitude of the force: The larger the force, the higher the pressure. 2. Contact area: The larger the contact area, the lower the pressure.

S.I. Unit of Pressure The S.I. unit of pressure is Pascal Notes: 1Pa = 1 N m-2 Other units: cm Hg, atm

Application Involving High Pressure

Application Involving Low Pressure

3. Tyre of Tractor 1. Foundation of Building

4. Feet of Elephant 2. Snow Shoes

Example 1. An elephant weighing 30000 N stand on one foot. Area foot in contact with the ground is 1500 cm2. Calculate pressure exerts on the floor. A person wearing snowshoes applies a pressure of 7350 Pa with each foot step. If area covered by a snow shoes is 0.1 m2, what is the mass of the person. Crime scene investigators have found some tyres prints on a dirt road at a crime scene. From the depth of the tyre prints, they deduce that 127600 Pa of pressure was applied by the gateway vehicle. The area of contact between the 4 tyres and the road is 768 cm2. What is the mass of the vehicle.

2.

3.

3.2 Understanding pressure in liquids

Pressure in Liquid Pressure in liquid is due to the weight of the liquid acting on the surface of any objects in the liquid.

P = Pressure h = depth = density of liquid g = Gravitational Field Strength

Relationship of depth, density and gravitational field strength to pressure in liquid.

Figure shows a column of liquid with density of kg m and base surface area of A m. The depth of the base is h m. The column of liquid exerts a pressure on the base due to its weight. Volume of the liquid, V = Ah m Mass of the liquid, m = Ah kg Weight of the liquid, W = Ahg N

EXAMPLE
The figure shows a glass tube filled with 60 cm height of liquid A and 40 cm height of liquid B. The densities of liquid A and liquid B are 1 000 kg m and 2 500 kg m respectively. What is the pressure of (a) liquid A at point x (b) liquid A and liquid B at point Y

Solution: (a) P= hg = 1000 x 10 x 0.6 = 6000 Pa = 6 kPa

b) P= 6000+ (2500 x 10 x 0.40) = 16000 Pa = 16 kPa

Example
Figure shows a fish in a lake. Find the pressure of water exerted on the fish. (water = 1000kg/m3)

Solution
Pressure caused by water, P = hg P = (3-1.8)(1000)(10) =12000 Pa

Try answer this question

Given that the density of mercury is 13600kgm-3. Calculate the pressure of mercury at a point 25cm from the mercury surface (g=10ms-2) P = gh =(13600)(10)(0.25) =34 kPa

Example

1. By how much does the pressure change in a bottle of vegetables oil as the depth increases from 1 cm to 8 cm. oil = 930 kg/m3 2. Calculate the pressure exerted by the water on a swimmer when they are 8 m under the water. water = 1000 kg/m3 3. A coin sinks to a depth of 5 m in a liquid of density 800 kg/m3. At what depth in a different liquid of density 600 kg/m3, will the coin be subjected to the same pressure?

Characteristic 1

Characteristic 2

The pressure in a liquid increases with depth.

The pressure at any point of a liquid acts equally in all direction.

Characteristic 3

Characteristic 4

For a given liquid, the pressure at a point within it varies only with the vertical depth of the point below the surface of the liquid. Pressure in liquid does not depends on - the shape of the container. - the size of the container. - the area of its surface

Pressure in liquid depends only on its vertical distance from the surface of the liquid. Pressure at A = Pressure at B

Application : Construction of Dam

The wall of the dam is built thicker at the bottom to withstand a higher pressure. The generator is placed at the lower part so that the pressure of the water is high enough to drive the turbine.

Application: Public Water Supply System

The water tower is built at high place so that the water has sufficient pressure to flow to consumers house.

3.3 Understanding gas pressure and atmospheric pressure

What is Atmospheric Pressure? Atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted on the surface of any objects by the atmospheric gas. It is caused by the weight of the atmospheric gas above the earth surface. Unit of atmospheric pressure The units of atmospheric pressure used in the SPM syllabus include: - Pascal (Pa) - centimetre/milimetre mercury (cm Hg/mm Hg) - atmosphere (atm) - metre water
Notes: -Atmospheric Pressure at Sea Level = 1 atm 1 atm = 76 cm Hg

Atmospheric Pressure and Altitude

Atmospheric pressure decreases as the altitude increases

Pressure in Liquid

P = Pressure Patm = Atmospheric Pressure h = Depth = Density of liquid g = Gravitational Field Strength

Example
Given that the atmospheric pressure at Genting Highland is 72 cm Hg. Find the equivalent value of this pressure in the unit of Pascal (Pa). [mercury = 13600 kg m-3]

Solution
h = 72 cm = 0.72 m = 13600 kg m-3 g = 10 m s-2 Pressure in the unit of Pascal, P = gh P = (13600)(10)(0.72) = 97920 Pa

Existence of Atmospheric Pressure Case 1:

The cardboard does not fall and the water remains in the glass even though its not supported by anything. Explanation: The force caused by the atmospheric pressure acts on the surface of the cardboard is greater than the weight of the water in the glass.

Case 2 (Crushing Can) :

When a can filled with hot water is closed and is cooled down rapidly by pouring cold water on it, it will crash instantly. Explanation: When the air inside the can is cooled, its pressure decreases. The high atmospheric pressure outside exerts a great force on the can and causes it crashes.

Case 3 (Magdeburg Hemisphere) :

When the air inside the hemisphere is pumped out so that it becomes a vacuum, the hemisphere cannot be separated even by a very great force. Explanation: The atmospheric pressure exerts a strong force on the outer surface of the hemisphere, holding the hemisphere tightly together.

Instrument Used to Measure Atmospheric Pressure - Fortin Barometer - Anaroid Barometer - Simple Barometer

Simple Barometer

Pa = 0 cm Hg Pb = 26 cm Hg Pe = 76 cm Hg Pf = 84 cm Hg For a given liquid, the pressure will be the same at same level. Therefore, Pd = Pe = 76 cm Hg The difference of gas pressure at different level can be ignored if the difference of the height is not too large. Therefore, Pc = Pd = 76 cm Hg

Example
Figure shows a simple barometer. Find the atmospheric pressure in the unit of a) cm Hg b) Pa [mercury = 13600 kg m-3]

Solution
a) The atmospheric pressure, P = 76 cm Hg b) The atmospheric pressure, P = gh = (13600)(10)(0.76) = 103360 Pa

Example
Figure shows a column of mercury in a glass tube. Some air is trapped in the glass tube. If the atmospheric pressure is 76 cm Hg, what is the pressure of the gas inside the tube?

Solution
Patm = Pair + Pmercury (76) = Pair + 50 Pair = 76 - 50 = 26 cm Hg

More About Simple Barometer

The height, h will remains unchanged when : i) the glass tube is lifted up from the dish ii) the glass tube is lowered further into the dish iii) the diameter of the glass tube increases iv) the glass tube is tilted v) the quantity of mercury in the dish is increased

Application of Atmospheric Pressure 1. Rubber Sucker 2. Syringe

When the sucker is pressed into place, the air inside is forced out. The sucker is held in position by the high atmospheric pressure on the outside surface.

When the piston is pulled up, the atmospheric pressure inside the cylinder will decrease. The atmospheric pressure outside pushes the liquid up into the syringe.

3. Straw

4. Vacuum Cleaner

When a person suck through the straw, the pressure in the straw become low. The atmospheric pressure outside which is higher will force the water into the straw and consequently into the mouth.

When a vacuum cleaner is switched on, it sucks out the air inside the cleaner, causes the pressure inside the cleaner become low. The atmospheric pressure which is higher in magnitude, forces the air and dust particles into the cleaner.

How gas pressure is produced? Gas molecules are at constant and random movements. When the molecules collide with the wall of the container and bounce back, they experience a change in momentum. The momentum change exerts a force on the wall. Force per unit area is the pressure exerted on the wall of the container. Instruments used to measure gas pressure - Manometer - Bourdon Gauge

Using Manometer

When manometer is not connected to any gas, only atmosphere pressure acts on surface A and B. This atmosphere pressure will be same, thus the height also will be at the same level. When a manometer connected to a gas supply through A, the gas would exert a pressure to liquid and height at B will increase

Pgas = Patm + Pliquid Pgas = Patm + gh

Example

Figure shows the water levels in a water manometer used to measure the pressure of a gas supply. Find the pressure of the gas in unit of i) cm water ii) Pa [Pressureatm= 1000 cm Water; water = 1000kg/m3] ii) h = 1025 cm = 10.25 m = 1000 kg m3 g = 10 m s-2 Gas Pressure, P = gh P = (1000)(10)(10.25) P = 102500 Pa

Solution
i) Gas Pressure, P = Patm + Pwater P = 1000 + (30-5) = 1025 cm Water

U-Tube A U-tube can be used to determine density

Example

Solution

Figure shows a U-tube filled with 2 liquids X and Y that do not mix. Given that the density of liquid Y is 1.6g/cm3. Find the density of liquid X.

Gas Pressure In A Capillary Tube

Pgas = gas pressure in the capillary tube Patm = atmospheric pressure h = length of the captured mercury column = density of mercury g = gravitational field strength

Example
Figure shows a capillary containing a column of mercury. If the atmospheric pressure is 100000 Pa, find the pressure of the gas trapped in the capillary tube. [mercury = 13600 kg/m3]

Solution
Gas Pressure, P = Patm + hg P = 100000 + (0.005)(13600)(10) P = 100680 Pa

Bourdon Pressure Gauge

If pressure is applied, the copper tube will be straightened slightly. The copper tube pushes the lever system and hence rotates the pointer. Gas pressure can be read directly from the scale.

3.4 Applying Pascals Principle

Pascal's principle states that any change in pressure applied to an enclosed liquid will be transmitted to every point of the fluid without any change in magnitude.

When the plunger is pushed in, the water squirts equally from all the holes. This shows that the pressure applied to the plunger has been transmitted uniformly throughout the water.

Hydraulic System

F1 = Force exerted on the small piston A1 = area of the small piston F2 = Force exerted on the big piston A2 = area of the big piston The hydraulic system acts as a force multiplier.

Example
In a hydraulic system the large piston has cross-sectional area A2 = 200 cm2 and the small piston has crosssectional area A1 = 5 cm2. If a force of 250 N is applied to the small piston, what is the force F, on the large piston?

Solution

Hydraulic Jack When the handle is pressed down : Valve A is closed, valve B is opened. The hydraulic fluid is forced into the large cylinder and hence pushes the piston moving upward.

When the handle is raised : Valve B will be closed, valve A will be opened. Hydraulic fluid from the buffer tank will be suck into the small cylinder. This process is repeated until the load is sufficiently lifted up.

Hydraulic Brake

When the brake pedal is pressed, the piston of the master cylinder applies a pressure on the brake fluid.

This pressure is transmitted uniformly to each cylinders at the wheel, cause the pistons at the wheels to push the brake shoes to press against the surface of the brake. The friction between the brakes and brake shoes causes the vehicle to slow down and stop.

3.5 Applying Archimedes Principle

Archimedes Principle Archimedes Principle states that when a body is wholly or partially immersed in a fluid it experiences an upthrust equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.

Example
The density and mass of a metal block are 3.2 103 kg m3 and 5.0 kg respectively. Find the upthrust that act on the metal block when it is fully immersed in water. [water = 1000 kg m-3 ]

Solution
= 1000 kg m-3 g = 10 m s-2 Since the metal block is fully immersed in water, the volume of the displaced water = volume of the block. The volume of the block, V can be found be using the equation of density, = m/V. Upthrust exerted on the block, F = Vg
= 1000 0.0015625 10 = 15.625 N

Buoyant force Buoyant force is an upward force exerted by a fluid on an object immersed in it. Principle of Floatation Displaced volume of fluid = volume of the object that immerse in the fluid. If weight of the object > upthrust ( object will sink into the fluid ). If weight of the object = upthrust ( object is in balance and therefore float on the surface of the fluid )

Density of Object < Density of water: Partially Immerse

Upthrust, F = liquidVliquidg Weight, W = mg =objectVobjectg

Upthrust = Weight

Density of Object < Density of water: Fully Immerse

F = Upthrust T = Tension of the string W = Weight Upthrust, F = liquidVliquidg Weight, W = mg =objectVobjectg

F=T+W

Density of Object > Density of water: Fully Immerse

F = Upthrust T = Tension of the string W = Weight Upthrust, F = liquidVliquidg Weight, W = mg =objectVobjectg

T+F=W

Example
A block that has volume of 0.2 m3 is hanging in a water tank as shown in the figure above. Find the tension of the string? [ metal = 8 103 kg m-3, water = 1 103 kg m-3]

Solution
Vblock = 0.2 m3 Vwater = 1 m3 block = 8 103 kg m-3 water = 1 103 kg m-3 The system is in equilibrium, hence Upthrust + Tension = Weight waterVwaterg + T = blockVblockg T = blockVblockg - waterVwaterg T = (8000)(0.2)(10) - (1000)(1)(10) T = 6000 N

Submarine A submarine has a large ballast tank, which is used to control its position and depth from the surface of the sea. When the ballast tanks are filled with water, the buoyant force is smaller than the weight of the submarine. The submarine sinks. When the ballast tanks are filled with air (removed all water) , the buoyant force is larger than the weight of the submarine. The submarine rises.

Hidrometer
A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the relative density of liquids such as milk or acid in accumulators. It consists of a tube with a bulb at one end. Lead shots are placed in the bulb to weigh it down and enable the hydrometer floats vertically in the liquid. In a liquid of lesser density, a larger volume of liquid must be displaced for the buoyant force to equal the weight. So the more the hydrometer is submerged. The hydrometer floats higher in a liquid of higher density.

Hot air ballons A hot-air balloon displaces a large volume of air. The buoyant force due to the surrounding air is equal the weight of the air displaced. When buoyant force is smaller, than the weight of the balloon, the balloon will rise. When the total weight of the balloon is equal to the buoyant force, it remains floating in the air.

3.6 Understanding Bernoullis Principle

Bernoulli's Principle Bernoulli's principle, physical principle formulated by Daniel Bernoulli that states "as the speed of a moving fluid (liquid or gas) increases, the pressure within the fluid decreases."

Experiment 1 Water flows from high pressure region to low region. Pressure at A > Pressure at B > Pressure at C. Experiment 2 Pressure at B becomes lowest because the speed of the water is the highest.

Application 1 - Aeroplane

When a wing in the form of an aerofoil moves in air, the flow of air over the top travels faster and creates a region of low pressure. The flow of air below the wing is slower resulting in a region of higher pressure. The difference between the pressures at the top and underside of the wing causes a net upward force, called lift, which helps the plane to take-off.

Apllication 2 - Bunsen Burner When the burner is connected to a gas supply, the gas flows at high velocity through a narrow passage in the burner, creating a region of low pressure. The outside air, which is at atmospheric pressure, is drawn in and mixes with the gas. The mixture of gas and air enables the gas to burn completely to produce a clean, hot, and smokeless flame.

End of Chapter 3